Brooks Jensen is a fine-art photographer, publisher, workshop teacher, and writer.  In his personal work, he specializes in small prints as well as hand-made artist’s books.  He and his wife (Maureen Gallagher) are the owners, co-founders, editors, and publishers of the award winning LensWork, one of today’s most respected and important periodicals in fine art photography.  With subscribers in 73 countries, Brooks’ impact on fine art photography is truly world-wide.  His podcasts on art and photography are heard over the Internet by thousands every day. LensWork Publishing is also at the leading edge in multimedia and digital media publishing with LensWork Extended — a PDF based, media-rich expanded version of the magazine. Brooks is the author of the best-selling Letting Go of the Camera: Essays on Photography and the Creative Life and the series of books Single Exposures: Random Observations on Art, Photography and Creativity.

What I think makes a good photograph?  Hmmmm . . .

Minor White advised that a photograph should go beyond showing what something is and show us what else it is.  Paul Strand advised that it is one thing to make a portrait that shows us what someone looks like, but quite another thing to show us who that person is.  These two photographers show us the way by encouraging us to go beyond what the lens sees and to remember that photography is a way for us human beings to connect with one another.  Good photographs go beyond photography, beyond mere pictures.  For me, a good photograph is one that builds a bridge of connection — between the photographer and the viewer, between the viewer and the world, between those who view a photograph.  Photographs that don’t make connections are mere graphic curiosities.